Houndstooth, Fur & A Little Sparkle
While you may not be able to see the forest for the trees, you can be a vision in an ensemble with multiple textures. In my second installment on engaging the senses through holiday fashion I’ve taken three knit separates added faux fur, velvet, reptile texture, and gemstones to create an overall glamorous vibe.
When we view the world through the narrow lens of the majority we can miss out on brilliant nuances. The beauty in being able to see can hinder our ability to fully engage with our environment.
Being born without or losing a sense like sight exposes us to a whole new world of sensory experience. The environment which the majority of us can see with our eyes is viewed very differently from a person who is blind or visually impaired.
Take today’s outfit for example, looking at it with physical sight we can take in the bold black and white houndstooth pattern. The sparkle of the gemstones would catch our eye but how about the shape, cut, edges, and smooth facets on the crystals?
From the perspective of blindness or visual impairment imagine how delightful the feeling is of running the fingertips through the fur on the vest or how this texture differs in comparison with the knit top. Taking in the smooth, bumpy surface on the handbag provides us with an added sensory experience by hearing the jingle of the adjustable shoulder chain or the magnetic closure.
Then we have the soft, luxurious feeling of velvet ankle boots against the warm and cozy opaque tights. Yes, there is no denying that seeing with our physical eyes is awesome but even when we cannot see we can still, and in some cases even more so appreciate the beauty surrounding us. The difference is in our perception.
Description (clockwise from the top left):
- Black rib knit sweater with gem embellished neck – funnel neck and long sleeves.
- Black and white houndstooth skirt – wrap-effect front, patch pockets, black trims.
- Shaggy vest in jet-black crimped faux fur – three-quarter length.
- Black opaque tights.
- Black velvet heeled booties – chunky heels.
- Silver-colored shoulder bag – silver chain strap.
Here’s a little something to think about: Many people view blindness as a loss but there is another perspective seldom considered, the minority’s view.
I’ve always loved dressing up. Skirts and dresses were my norm about 15 years ago. When I began working for one of the big 5—now recognized as big 4—accounting firms, I adapted to the business casual dress code environment by opting for more slacks.
Streamlining a wardrobe need not be complicated when employing different combinations of tops, layers, footwear, and accessories. As a matter of fact, dreaming up a variety of looks using multiple pieces can be so much fun! Over the next 3 days I’m going to share how I transformed one pencil skirt into 3 outfits; the BEST part, I shopped my closet.
